HOUSING SHORTAGE

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 189, 11 August 1920, Page 2

HOUSING SHORTAGE

A DEPUTATION OF WOMEN

[Press Association ]

WELLINGTON, Aug. 10,

A deputation of women waited on the Minister for Labor tcr-day to place before him the position they found themselves in owing to the shortage of houses.

Incidentally, it was mentioned that already 500 applications had been received for six Government houses which would be completed in a month or six weeks.

Mr Fraser, M.P., who introduced the deputation, said that it was urged that all evictions should bo stopped until there were sufficient houses for the needs of the people, or there should be legislation passed providing that where a landlord turned out a tenant lie must be prepared to find equivalent accommodation elsewhere.

One speaker referred to" week-end baches at the seaiside, and urged that the needs of many people could be met if these places were thrown open to them. In one house of twelve roms, a stone's throw from Parliament Buildings, there were eleven families living. Other cases of overcrowding and hardship were cited by other speakers. Sir William Herries said that he would place the matter before his colleagues. The Government Avas endeavoring to push ahead with the building of houses. The trouble was that the more restrictions there were placed on landlords the more people would have to depend on the Government for the building of houses, and the Government could not meet the immediate needs of all. Tenders were being called for a further 262 houses, and the Government was inquiring as to all quick methods of construction. The urgent need was recognised, and the Government was bringing down legislation to increase the:powers of local bodies regarding evictions. Sir William Herries said that it was not right to evict women. . He understood that in some Cases landlords had acted in a most arbitary manner.